Hey friend,

April rolled in talking about spring, new life, and second chances — and I’m over here just trying to remember where I put my coffee. Everyone’s celebrating “fresh starts,” and I’m quietly praying, “Lord, while You’re renewing everything else, could You renew my energy too?”

But truly, April always reminds me that God gives second chances we didn’t earn and certainly don’t deserve. And if you’ve lived long enough, you know second chances don’t arrive on demand. They’re not overnight shipping. They come in God’s timing — and when they do, we have to be willing to receive them before fear or pride talks us out of it.

I’ve watched people settle into their own mess as if it were permanent housing. Unhappy, frustrated, complaining — yet unwilling to move. I’ve been there too. Angry at the unfairness of life. Confused by the chaos. Wondering why my journey felt like a forty-year wilderness when I was only twenty-seven.

Speaking of wilderness — the Israelites wandered for forty years because they couldn’t align their attitudes with what God was doing. Forty years. Every time I read that, I pray, “Lord, please don’t let me circle the same mountain because I’m too stubborn to learn the lesson.”

“The Lord your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands… He has watched over your journey through this vast wilderness.” — Deuteronomy 2:7

Even in wandering, God was watching. Even in delay, He was providing.

I’ve had my own wilderness moments. Once, I decided I was going to stop losing my temper when I got upset. I lasted about six hours. Then someone cut me off in traffic, and my sanctification process had to start all over again. But I kept starting over. Again and again. Because growth isn’t glamorous — it’s intentional.

Then there’s Jonah — the prophet who heard God clearly and still went the opposite direction. God said go right; Jonah went left. And soon he found himself in the belly of a fish reconsidering every decision that led him there.

“In my distress I called to the Lord, and He answered me.” — Jonah 2:2

That’s us sometimes. We ignore the warning signs. We choose our own way. And then we’re surprised when life swallows us whole. Yet even there, God hears us. Even there, He answers. Even there, He extends mercy.

When I look back over my life, it truly feels like it passed in a blink. The difficult seasons were heavy. The joyful ones were beautiful. And the in-between years were filled with learning how to manage responsibility without losing my peace — or myself. Somewhere in that process, I learned a few truths:

You can’t grow if you won’t own your part.
You can’t heal if you’re still blaming everyone else.
And you can’t step into peace, joy, or purpose without being willing to face your own reflection.

So here’s to April — a reminder of new mercies and fresh opportunities. Not to be perfect, but to be better. To learn from our missteps. To accept correction. To move forward with humility and courage.

Let’s embrace the grace God offers and continue becoming the people he created us to be.

Love you big,
From Your Friend, It’s Me Lorie